HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER: Pennington goes down to nation's top ranked St. Benedict's

PENNINGTON — Jimmy Coyle and the Pennington School boys soccer players viewed yesterday’s game with St. Benedict’s a telling midway point in their season.

Though the Red Raiders dropped a 2-0 decision to the nation’s top-ranked team, Coyle, the team’s junior goalkeeper, saw plenty of which to be proud despite Pennington’s first setback.

“I’m not taking today away as a negative,” Coyle said. “It’s a positive if anything. It really shows how much we’ve improved from last year. As a family, we stuck together. It was great to see that, after the game, we didn’t criticize anyone. I feel like this is a great step forward in our journey to success.”

The Gray Bees (9-0) took the lead 2:20 into the game when Juan Parada broke through to start the visitors to their 45 consecutive win.

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The Red Raiders’ defense tightened after that, but were hit once more with 12:48 left in the second half when Matt Kerr found Michael Olla for a goal.

Pennington, which will travel to Peddie Tuesday, could not get the equalizer as Gray Bees goalkeeper Mateo Zabala made six saves.

St. Benedict’s (9-0)11-2

Pennington (7-1-1)00-0

Goals-SB: Parada, Olla. Assist-SB: Kerr.

Shots-SB: 11; P: 6. Saves-SB: Zabala 6; P: JCoyle 8.

WW-P South 2,

Notre Dame 1

LAWRENCE — Eddison Guluma scored the game-winner with just less than 2 minutes remaining as the Pirates defeated the Irish at Zimmer Field.

Guluma also had an assist in the win, while teammate Luis Cruz matched him with a goal and an assist.

Matt Martinez was credited with Notre Dame’s goal.

WW-P South (7-0-1)11-2

Notre Dame(4-3-1)10-0

Goals-WWS: Cruz, Guluma; ND: Martinez. Assists-WWS: Cruz, Guluma.

Shots-WWS: 8; ND: 16. Saves-WWS: Samatar 10; ND: Galazin 7.

Ewing 1,

Hamilton 1 (2OT)

EWING — Remone Franklyn’s first-half goal and Mike Ficci’s second-half tally caused the Hornets and the Blue Devils to play to a 1-1 tie after two scoreless overtimes.

Hamilton (1-6-1)1000-1

Ewing(0-7-1)0100-1

Goals-H: Franklyn; E: Ficci. Assist-H: Messina.

Shots-H: 11; E: 9. Saves-H: Zarzecki 8; E: Unger 10.

Allentown 5, Hopewell 2

HOPEWELL TWP. — Anthony DeRisi had a goal and an assist to ignite a big day for the Redbirds at the Bulldogs’ home field.

Patrick Dunne and Jimmy Wilson scored for Hopewell Valley, which had the game tied at 1 at intermission.

HIGHTSTOWN — Down a goal in the waning minutes, Union equalized with 1:47 left. When Peddie failed to convert on a penalty kick, the teams were forced to settle for a draw. Kevin Herrera and Daniel Garcia scored for Union, and Harrison Wenzel and Isaiah Seetram did the same for the Falcons.